Track Brake Pad Discussion Thread

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by sw20kosh

So in your opinion is there any benefit to going with HP+ over the other heavier duty pads.


I want a pad that I can drive around on daily (noise and dust are an issue), that wont disintegrate at the track like the stockers.

That somewhat depends on your local tracks. I wouldn't use HP+ on a track that's hard on brakes for example, but something like Roebling Road raceway where there's only one real hard braking zone they'd be fine. You are in NorCal so a few of the cali track guys can probably answer this better than I can.

All track pads will have increased dust. Noise varies by pad. IMO if you want a very streetable track pad that still works well take a hard look at the Carbotech XP-10's or maybe XP-12s if you need the extra heat capacity. XP-10s IMO are very streetable, they make a good amount of dust but basically zero noise and I'd take them over XP+ pads myself. The pad dust from the XP-10s is also friendly, no paint damage from leaving it on, etc.

Eventually you'll probably find out that you really just want two sets of pads. If you are using OEM calipers then OEM pads for the street and whatever track pad you decide on for the track. Changing pads is easy, and inspecting the car with the wheels off should be done before a track day anyways, plus a quick bleed of the brakes, etc.

[GTB/ZR-1]

Slightly OT--but makes sense to park here...

Does anyone have a set of track pads they're thinking abt getting rid of? I'm going to Roebling next month to instruct @ a PCA event & don't want to kill my stock pads.
I'll be on 245 R-S3s. I hope to break 1:30s w/ a relatively stock car (rims/tires, intake/axle-back & LW batt)--so I'll be driving near 10/10ths.

The plan is to put bigger brakes on the car soon, but not before next month.

Thx guys & sorry for the interruption!

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by GTB/ZR-1

Slightly OT--but makes sense to park here...

Does anyone have a set of track pads they're thinking abt getting rid of? I'm going to Roebling next month to instruct @ a PCA event & don't want to kill my stock pads.
I'll be on 245 R-S3s. I hope to break 1:30s w/ a relatively stock car (rims/tires, intake/axle-back & LW batt)--so I'll be driving near 10/10ths.

The plan is to put bigger brakes on the car soon, but not before next month.

Thx guys & sorry for the interruption!

I ran 1:29s in a 215,000 mile Integra chumpcar on 195/205 star specs. You should beat 1:30s without trying that hard. RR is a pretty easy track on brakes, we use performance street pads for endurance races there.

I gave away my XP-10s for the OEM calipers, so unfortunately I can't help you out with the pads If I still had them I would have sent them to you though. Check with Kido, (check SE forum, it's Kido then some number) he might have something left over.

[Kido1986]

I checked this thread just in time!

I have 75% life OEM pads you can use if you murder your stock pads.

[GTB/ZR-1]

Originally Posted by Kido1986

I checked this thread just in time!

I have 75% life OEM pads you can use if you murder your stock pads.

Thx, Henry--very generous of you...

I'm a little worried I'll experience fade there w/ the stock setup--even though it's not bad on brakes there.

It'll probably still be chilly, so that'll help. I may be fine w/ the stockers worst-case.

Thx, guys.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by GTB/ZR-1

Thx, Henry--very generous of you...

I'm a little worried I'll experience fade there w/ the stock setup--even though it's not bad on brakes there.

It'll probably still be chilly, so that'll help. I may be fine w/ the stockers worst-case.

Thx, guys.

Swap fluid, I boiled the OEM fluid quickly which is where I got fade from. The pads I think will be fine at RRR.

[Kido1986]

I didn't even try the stock fluid, changed it at 1300 miles. Never mind that at 1350 miles I was on Sebring on a 100+ ambient day :P

[GTB/ZR-1]

Sounds like a plan, gents--thx!

[Kido1986]

Originally Posted by GTB/ZR-1

Sounds like a plan, gents--thx!

Will you be at either the 24 Hours Rolex or Deland autocross this weekend? I'll bring them with me if so

[GTB/ZR-1]

Hopefully Deland, thx.

[Black Tire]

I ran Carbotech XP10's on all 4 corners of my E36 M3 for about 3 years. Spring, summer, winter and fall in Minnesota. [I am an instructor and it's just easier to keep the same pad on all the time for street and frequent light track (like autocross+a bit) use.] They squealed and dusted a lot, but I didn't care too much. The squealing was tamed by using cryo-treated rotors (powerslot) and some good anti-squeal paste on the back of the brake pads (don't know brand since I had a shop do it). Incidentally, these pads are quite abrasive when cold - as in virtually all street driving. When I sold the car, the pads had about 50% left and were on their second set of rotors. Perhaps the cryo-treatment would last longer, but the pads still ate rotors for breakfast when cold. Keep in mind that sometimes the rotors are cheaper than the pads! I did have unremovable black stains on my wheels after many years, but it may have been due to other pads in the past (and lack of obsessive maintenance).

As for bedding the XP10's, Carbotech recommends doing it ON THE TRACK - see their website for more details. The alternate method that I used successfully is to drive them on the street for several hundred miles and NEVER brake hard enough to really heat up the brakes. This should work if you can discipline yourself for a week or so. When you get to a track, you can always follow the bedding-in procedure that Carbotech recommends just to be sure.

Now with my FR-S, I could go with the XP10's again, but I really want to try the CL RC6 pads from Essex. It seems that this pad would be a good choice for year-round on-and-off track duty. Problem is, I want to run the same pad at all 4 corners, and it appears that only the front pads are available from CL (through Essex).

Update: I contacted Jeff Ritter at Essex on Feb. 8, 2013. He said they did get in the rear brake pads from CL for the FR-S/BRZ, but that they sold out very quickly. More are on order.

By the way, stock pads and/or tires dust quite a bit on the track. See this post:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13139

[Asterisked Accolade]

No one has tried EBC 'Yellow Stuff' track pads?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Asterisked Accolade

No one has tried EBC 'Yellow Stuff' track pads?

I don't know ANYONE who's had a good experience with them that actually drives their car on track.

I've yet to hear a review on Blue or Orange though...

[Black Tire]

Originally Posted by Asterisked Accolade

No one has tried EBC 'Yellow Stuff' track pads?

A few years ago I tried their "green stuff" pads that were supposed to be good for "street and track." The pads melted after 3 laps at DCTC (VERY short track with a 55 mph speed limit) in the winter with snow tires in the dry. By "melted" I mean that they lost almost all friction and had to be cooled down to recover it. The pads were properly broken in at the time, so this was not an issue. At that event I limited my track sessions to 3 laps at a time and then pulled off to cool down the brakes. They never improved for the entire day. That was the last time I will try EBC pads. Also, this is the last time that I trusted any pad that claimed to be good for "street and track."